(BINGHAMTON, N.Y.) — Mayor Jared M. Kraham on Tuesday announced Brandywine Avenue has reopened to traffic after a major project to improve the railroad bridge near Henry Street concluded ahead of schedule this week. 

It marks the eighth bridge in Binghamton to receive substantial repairs by Norfolk Southern since 2023, when the City released a 900-page inspection report that put railroad companies on notice for the poor condition of their bridges.

Mayor Kraham said: “This is one of our area’s most visible railroad bridges, and it had been left to deteriorate for years. It’s now fixed, marking the eighth railroad bridge to receive major improvements in less than three years. Residents deserve better than bridges with crumbling concrete, exposed rebar and peeling paint. We’ll keep fighting to clean up Binghamton and deliver the improvements residents deserve.” 

The project, which began in early June, repaired the nearly 100-year-old bridge owned by Norfolk Southern that crosses the Brandywine just north of Henry Street. 

It included replacement of the bridges’ parapet walls, repairs to the concrete columns, new lighting and fresh paint. 

The bridge was found to be in poor condition by the City in its 2023 inspection report, which documented severely deteriorated concrete columns, damaged lighting and exposed rebar.

Norfolk Southern hired Vector Construction to complete the work. 

 

In addition to the Brandywine Avenue bridge, Norfolk Southern has completed major work to its bridges on Glenwood Avenue, Jarvis Street, Front Street and Murray Street over the last three years. All eight bridges were found to be in “poor” or “severe” condition in the City’s report.  

In 2023, after decades of inaction by railroad companies to maintain their privately owned bridges, Mayor Kraham announced the City would hire an engineering firm to conduct visual inspections of the bridges and document concerns. 

Engineering firm HUNT-EAS, of Binghamton, completed a 900-page report following the inspections that found a majority of the bridges to be in poor or severe condition. Nearly half the bridges were found to have at least one “significant structural and/or safety concern that should be investigated and addressed by the Railroad,” according to the report. 

The City sent copies of the report to the railroad companies, federal regulators, and federal lawmakers, who joined Mayor Kraham in calling on Norfolk Southern to begin repairs. 

The report spurred action by Norfolk Southern officials, who provided the City with a detailed plan to repair some of the bridges found to be in the worst condition.

Crews hired by Norfolk Southern completed a rehabilitation of the Glenwood Avenue later that year, including repairs to concrete columns and parapets, and fresh paint. Similar work was completed to the bridges on Jarvis Street and Murray Street. Last year, Norfolk Southern constructed a new railroad bridge on Front Street to replace one in severe condition.  

Most of the railroad bridges in the City of Binghamton are owned by Norfolk Southern. Three are owned by New York Susquehanna & Western (NYSW).

Unlike road bridges, which are the responsibility of public entities, railroad bridges are the responsibility of the private railroad companies and are regulated by the federal government.